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INQUIRER.net | Philippine News for FilipinosThe Philippines: signs of economic improvementAuthor: Cesar Virata, Manila The Philippines began 2011 with high expectations and optimism after the Aquino administration announced various reform-minded plans and programs. These included a vigorous anti-corruption campaign, plans for greater government transparency and accountability, a number of public-private partnerships (PPPs) for major infrastructure projects, social programs addressing poverty alleviation, and improved education and health programs. Still, the national economy slowed down in 2011 as compared with 2010, which was a year of high election spending. Remittances from overseas workers increased, and business processing services grew vigorously by about 20 per cent. Interruptions in the supply of essentials brought about by typhoons and flooding, and the increase in fuel prices upped headline inflation to slightly over 5 per cent, but core inflation remained at 4.5 per cent on average. Cesar Virata is Principal of C.

Loneliness link with Alzheimer&#039;sPeople who are lonely are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's disease, a large US study has suggested. The findings come from a study of more than 800 elderly patients, who were followed over a four-year period. Social isolation has already been shown to be linked to dementia but this is the first time researchers have looked at how alone people actually felt. Writing in Archives of General Psychiatry, the researchers said the reason for the link was not yet clear. Study leader Professor Robert Wilson and colleagues assessed participants loneliness by asking people to rate from one to five whether they agreed with certain statements related to loneliness on an annual basis. Questions posed to those being studied included "I experience a general sense of emptiness" and "I often feel abandoned". People in the study were also assessed for signs of dementia and Alzheimer's disease. However there was no association between loneliness and the brain pathology associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Country’s 1st anti mining monument erected in RomblonAnti-mining advocates witnessed on Tuesday the unveiling of a Memorial in Romblon commemorating the biggest protest held in the province against mining by the Church, local officials and residents. A first in the country, the anti-mining monument is a reminder of the people’s struggle against the entry of large scale mining firms in Romblon. Romblon Governor Eduardo C. Firmalo said the province will not allow any mining activities to destroy the environment and bring suffering to the people, stressing that local government units have the autonomy to defend the general welfare of the population. "Today we commemorate the unity of our people to uphold the dignity of life and environment. “Metallic mining has no room in the province, and to follow the priority industries of President Noynoy Aquino: we should focus on agriculture, tourism and infrastructure," he added. For his part, Msgr. The priest stressed that it is everyone’s “spiritual duty to defend the dignity of life.”

MAKILING JOURNAL INDEX PAGEMakiling Journal Publisher is Chairman for Calabarzon , Federation of Provincial Press Clubs of the Philippines REP. SAN LUIS WON'T WITHDRAW SUPPORT FOR ARROYO IMPEACHMENT . . . Los Baños FARM-C's "PASYAL LAWA" Project . . . SCIENTISTS at the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) are now into massive cloning of embryos of a superior breed of carabao following the unsuccessful transfer of the first batch of the cloned carabao embryos early this year. , the national hero of the Philippines and pride of the Malayan race, was born on June 19, 1861, in the town of Calamba, Laguna. Filipino and American soldiers participating in the annual joint military training exercise Talon Vision 2008 a KAAKBAY SA PAG-AARAL is a project of the Kaakbay Citizen's Development Initiative, Inc. in partnership with the Department of Education under the "Adopt-A-School" program Kids John, Julia and Joey Turgeon PINOY friends of Makiling Journal in Morocco . Filipino Electronics Workers Afforded Chance to Study . . .

Court shuts down Baguio’s Irisan dump, site of fatal trash slide | NewsThe Court of Appeals has ordered the Baguio City government to permanently close its Irisan dumpsite following a catastrophic trash slide that claimed the lives of five people last year. In a 13-page ruling penned by Associate Justice Ricardo Rosario, the CA’s Former Special Sixth Division approved the joint motion for rendition of a “consent decree” submitted by petitioner Benguet Rep. Ronald Cosalan and other concerned residents and by respondents Mayor Mauricio Domogan and the city council led by Vice Mayor Daniel Fariñas. Other respondents named in the suit are the City Solid Waste Management Board, which is also chaired by Domogan; the City Environment and Parks Management Office, represented by Cordelia Lacsamana; and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Signed by both parties, the decree formally informs the CA that they have agreed to settle the case amicably, with the respondents not opposing the writ of kalikasan issued by the Supreme Court in January.

A mind taut with pain - Health - Times OnlineBishop marks golden jubilee with anti-mining callsKORONADAL CITY (MindaNews/10 April) — Diocese of Marbel Bishop Dinualdo D. Gutierrez marked the 50th year of his priestly ministry yesterday with a late afternoon thanksgiving mass where hundreds of parishioners offered prayers for the protection of the environment from the impact of large-scale mining in the area. For 30 years now, Gutierrez has been the bishop of Marbel, whose pastoral jurisdiction includes the town of Tampakan, South Cotabato, host of the copper and gold project of foreign-backed Sagittarius Mines, Inc. Under his leadership, the diocese has been at the forefront in the struggle against the Tampakan project, which is planned to go on commercial stream in 2016. To commemorate his golden jubilee, Gutierrez celebrated a special mass, concelebrated by at least two dozens bishops from across the country and numerous priests under the diocesan territory. “[May the Lord God] hear the prayers of our people,” the bishop responded. John B.

nuevaecijajournal.comAll roads lead to Gapan City in Nueva Ecija on April 26 for a historic religious event – the 50th Canonical Coronation Anniversary of La Virgen Divina Pastora, the object of the biggest Marian pilgrimage in Central Luzon. Coinciding with the Canonical Coronation Golden Jubilee is the 28th anniversary of the declaration of the Three Kings Parish church as the National Shrine of La Virgen Divina Pastora. Rev. Father Antonio Mangahas, Three Kings Parish priest, said five bishops and some 50 priests from the Diocese of Cabanatuan and Diocese of San Jose, will concelebrate the Golden Jubilee Mass to be officiated by Cabanatuan Bishop Sofronio Bancud at 2:00 P.M. in the National Shrine of La Virgen Divina Pastora. The other bishops include Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, San Jose Bishop Roberto C. Villegas, current president of the Catholic Bishops Conference, will be the guest homilist and will re-enact the coronation rite. Former army soldier killed in Talavera Sr. Chief Insp.

The Philppines: International economic sick man no moreJohann Carpio MANILA, March 12, 2013- The Philippine stock exchange has been cited as the third best performing market in 2012 according to the Paris-based, Word Federation of Exchanges. The country’s economic comeback has shed it at last of its image as the “sick man of Asia,” and is now making even the most skeptical heads turn. This is a major development, which prompted World Bank country director Motoo Konishi to regard the island-nation as a “rising tiger.” There are four key points that have contributed to the improvement in the country’s economy. 1. Among the four factors cited, bureaucratic transparency and the anti-corruption drive were the major points emphasized by the country’s administration back in the 2010 presidential elections. However, the main campaign point of then presidential candidate Benigno Aquino Jr. was to eliminate the pervasive culture of corruption throughout the government. Fast forward ten years later. So what now?